Feb. 7, 2010
EVANSTON, Ill. -- No. 2 Northwestern faced a Florida State team Sunday that came into the match riding a three-match winning streak that included wins over two Big Ten teams and clinching its first-ever trip to the ITA National Indoor Team Championship. But the 'Cats quickly dispelled any thoughts of an FSU upset, dominating the Seminoles 7-0 in Evanston.
The Wildcats will take their 4-0 record into the National Indoor tournament--where they are the defending champions--beginning next weekend. Their win over the Seminoles Sunday improved their record at home over the last two-plus seasons to 26-1.
In doubles play, Northwestern quickly jumped ahead by 3-0 scores at the first and third positions. At No. 1, Elena Chernyakova and Lauren Lui kept the heat on against Lauren McCreless and Francesca Segarelli, eventually taking a 5-0 advantage before FSU was able to hold serve in the ensuing game. Later, leading 7-1, Chernyakova pulled NU back from down an Ad point and an FSU return of Lui's serve went wide as the 'Cats closed out an 8-1 victory.
On the adjacent court, NU's No. 3 team of Samantha Murray and Kate Turvy went on to close out their match by a comfortable 8-3 margin to clinch the doubles point for the Wildcats. Murray put the finishing touches on the win with a strong, well-placed backhand at the net on match point.
NU's Brittany Wowchuk and Maria Mosolova were tied at two in their No. 2 doubles match versus Katie Rybakova and Jessica Suess but notched a big break of serve and held their own service game to take a 4-2 lead. But the 'Noles came back to win three games in a row before NU pulled level again at five. In the end, though, FSU pulled out an 8-6 win to gain some momentum entering singles.
Northwestern was able to stem that momentum thanks in part to a speedy win at third singles by Turvy over Katie Rybakova. Turvy actually led the second set 5-1 before closing out the match 6-1, 6-3 to remain unbeaten on the dual season.
The veteran Lui faced off with FSU's Federica Suess at No. 4 singles and cruised to a 6-3, 6-3 win. Lui trailed in the final game but used back-to-back clever drop shots to evade the racket of Suess and won the match after coming back from down an Ad point.
The clinching point came courtesy of the 12th-ranked Mosolova at the No. 1 spot, who looked calm and confident in a 6-2, 6-4 defeat of No. 23 Lauren McCreless.
At No. 5, sophomore Stacey Lee battled back from a two-game deficit in the first set against Amy Sargeant and the set eventually entered a tiebreaker. Lee led the breaker early before Sargeant came back to tie things at five. But Lee summoned the strength to win the next two points and go up one set to love. Lee was in control throughout the second, winning a tough sixth game go ahead 5-1 and closing out the final game without losing a point to take the match 7-6 (5), 6-1.
The No. 2 singles match between Murray and Segarelli was all about momentum swings, with Murray racing through the first set 6-2 before Segarelli was equally as dominant in the second, winning 6-0. Things evened out in the third, with Segarelli taking a 2-1 early lead before Murray tied things at two. Murray reclaimed her groove from that point forward, going up 5-2 before winning 6-3.
Chernyakova preserved the shutout with a 6-2, 6-4 win against Sucupria, improving her dual record to 3-0 on the season.
Northwestern can now set its sights on preparing for the ITA National Indoor Team Championship next weekend in Madison, Wis. The defending champion Wildcats open play in the round of 16 on Friday, Feb. 12, against Tennessee.
No. 2 Northwestern 7, No. 21 Florida State 0
Singles
1: Maria Mosolova (NU) def. Lauren McCreless (FSU), 6-2, 6-4
2: Samantha Murray (NU) def. Francesca Segarelli (FSU), 6-2, 0-6, 6-3
3: Kate Turvy (NU) def. Katie Rybakova (FSU), 6-1, 6-3
4: Lauren Lui (NU) def. Federica Suess (FSU), 6-3, 6-3
5: Stacey Lee (NU) def. Amy Sargeant (FSU), 7-6 (5), 6-1
6: Elena Chernyakova (NU) def. Jessica Sucupira (FSU), 6-2, 6-4
Doubles
1: Chernyakova/Lui (NU) def. McCreless/Segarelli (FSU), 8-1
2: Rybakova/Suess (FSU) def. Mosolova/Wowchuk (NU), 8-6
3: Murray/Turvy (NU) def. Sargeant/Sucupira (FSU), 8-3
Order of Finish
Singles: (3, 1, 4*, 2, 5, 6)
Doubles (1, 3*, 2)